The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-03-10
WHO ISLANDER HlM2
It Is Certain, from the Testimony Given
Below, That the Actual Settlers Are Not
Opposing Land Commissioner Sparks.

| IL Is Certain, from the Testimony Given
Below. That the Actual Settlers Are Not
Opposing Land Commissioner Sparks
Land Commissioner Sparks is at the
bat, and his inning against the timber
claim thieves and the cattle barons of
the Territories will show up his case
and his rulings in far different light
than the organs of monopoly have
''panoramaed'' them to the people of the
country. by means of manufactured
letters from reputed home-seekers and
hOmesteaders in the West. The
letters which denounced Sparks and
which were published in the sub
sidized organs of the cattle barons were
not from farmers, nor home
steaders, nor home seekers. They
were from land SPECTATORS who lived
east, west, north and south, and who
were represented in the Territories by
proxy. Since the fight on him by the
corporations and the syndicates began
Sparks has been deluged with letters
from actual settlers who indorSe every
ruling he has made. And these letters
are now finding their way into print to
the great chagrin and discontinue of
the men and the rings who have been
making war upon him. The letters
are signed by the writers. who give
their proper pOSt-Otlice address, and
who invite Il correspondence with the
friends of the fault-hnders. Below We
civ f.. s.I
pressed in the letters from different
sections which have suffered, rs the
organs have said, from Sparks rulings:
Your order Of Arpil 3, 1885, meets with the
appreciation of all good citizens in this land
Cd. t. of golden grain Stand by it-''yenti-
late the Frauds Your order works no hard
ship on the honest settier-it is the rascal that
objects to the inconvenience of having his vii
lainy investigated" Your order is no detri-
ment or disadvantage to the poorer classes
The bulk of our bona flde settlers'-'1t is
their salvation" your orders have met with
the approval OF every bona fide resident
keep on with the work you have so nObly in
augurated." The people of this vicinity CTeld
County, COLI hail with joy your land rulings"
I'VE feel great pride in the fearless and fair
administration of the Land Department"
Your rulings are move in the right direction,
fully one-fourth OF all land claims in
this district Huron, D. t. are more
or less fraudulent What difference does
it make whether lands are patented
in one or ten years to people hon
eStly seeking homes, it is only the land
thieves who fight against you" THE actual
farmers are not afraid OF any decisions you have
rendered" I'VE farmers do indorse your ac-
tons and decisions and will stand by you
1--WE, the farmers and citizens OF Brookings and
Moody Counties, d. T., join il declaring your
rulings just and proper and for the best protec
ton of farmers and actual settlers, but bitter
dose to those residing in towns and holding
claims" Il feel deeply interested in this grand
work, as this question OF homes for our chill
dren will absorb our action in the near future"
keep up your licks' Il have had my final re-
cept for over year, but do not growl at your
not issuing patents" stand by your rulings:
no honest man is complaining; only the roSues
are hurt" You hit the nail on the head. and,
judging from the way the agents and attorneys
squrm, you hit it hard" Give the honest
poor man a chance" THE money loaners and
land thieves are the only ones who howl"
1t takes time, patience and persever-
ance to catch and corner thief when
the scoundrel sought has been given
substantial outside assistance, but they
are generally caught and sometimes
punished. Sparks has been derided
and lied about in the public prints more
than any other official in The Govern
ment service. Those who have derided
and lied about him are the agents, the
attorneys and the principals, who have
been obliged to loosen their fraudulent
grips on large and small slices OF the
public domain. Literally he has not
been crushed to earth, but he is rising
again in the popular esteem he enjoyed
before the cattle barons and the land
agents took an inning against him.
DeS WOineS Leader.